Intraoperative Complications With Vitreous Biopsy for Molecular Proteomics

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of intraoperative complications while collecting a vitreous sample for proteomic biomarker analyses during small -gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).METHODS: A retrospective case series was assem-bled from the surgical logs and charts of patients who underwent 23-, 25-, and 27-gauge PPV along with an undiluted vitreous biopsy. Primary surgi-cal indication and detailed operative reports were reviewed. Complications specific to vitreous biopsy were assessed while complications related to vitrec-tomy in general without biopsy were not tabulated.RESULTS: In 1190 eyes that underwent vitreous bi-opsy, the most common indications for PPV were rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (24.2%), epiretinal membrane (ERM) (21.7%), vitreous hem-orrhage (11.0%), uveitis (8.3%), and macular hole (7.5%). An adequate sample of 0.5 cc to 1.0 cc was obtained in all cases. There was one sclerotomy break associated with biopsy, but no instances of lens touch, retinal contusion, retinal detachment, or intraocular hemorrhage.CONCLUSIONS: Undiluted vitreous biopsy obtained at the time of small-gauge vitrectomy is a generally safe procedure and may be considered for collec-tion of samples for proteomic analysis.